Nationals hold off Marlins for series sweep

May 14, 2007 - 12:04 AM
WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals finally won
their first series this season. They took it one step further
on Sunday.

Cristian Guzman's two-run triple highlighted a five-run second
inning as the Nationals went on to defeat the Florida Marlins,
6-4.

Rookie Jesus Flores also drove in a pair of runs for the
Nationals, who completed their first series sweep since
September 3 after securing their first series win of the season
with Saturday's 7-3 triumph on Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off homer
in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's nice to get that monkey off our back and take the series
and today get lucky enough to sweep them," Nationals' Robert
Fick said.

Austin Kearns and Robert Fick reached on one-out singles in the
decisive frame off Wes Obermueller (1-2). Kearns scored and
Fick moved to second when Flores delivered the team's third
consecutive single.

Ryan Langerhans walked to load the bases for pitcher Jason
Simontacchi, who reached on an error when third baseman Miguel
Cabrera could not handle a slow roller.

"I can't say enough about this kid," Nationals manager Manny
Acta said of Flores. "I keep telling people how impressed I am
with how he has handled himself up here as a rookie, not only on
the field but in the clubhouse. He just really has that
swagger about him. And if you ask him, he'll tell you that he's
ready to play here."

After Flores scored on a groundout by Felipe Lopez, Guzman lined
a two-run triple to right past diving outfielder Joe Borchard
to provide a 5-0 cushion and enough for Simontacchi (1-1) to
post his first win since August 22, 2004 against the Pittsburgh
Pirates.

"It's a great feeling, no doubt about it," Simontacchi said.
"Sitting here when (Jon Rauch) was on the mound, I started
thinking about it's been a long time, and it's another blessing
from God, and I appreciate it."

It was the second start of the season for Simontacchi, who had
been out of the league since 2004 due to shoulder surgery. He
missed the entire 2005 season and was a reliever in the
Independent League during the 2006 campaign.

Simontacchi allowed four runs - three earned - and eight hits in
5 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old righthander also walked two and
struck out four.

Two relievers bridged the way to Jon Rauch, who pitched around a
walk in the ninth to earn his first save of the year and third
of his career.

Of the five runs Obermueller allowed in the game, only one was
earned. He allowed five hits and a walk while striking out two
in five innings.

"I was just trying to battle," Obermueller said. "I dug us a
pretty nice hole in that second inning. I walked one guy and he
scored, but I just kept trying to pitch and they found some
holes with their bats. I just tried to stay aggressive the next
innings and do what I needed to do to try to keep our team in
it.

"Even when that five-run inning was going on, I just kept trying
to stay on the attack to do my job. We're having our struggles
right now but we're trying to battle and fight back. The tides
will turn."

Slow starts have been common for the Marlins recently. In their
last eight games, the team has not had a first-inning hit and
has been outscored, 20-2, in the first four innings.

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said the players have not lost
its focus or become frustrated.

"I was looking for it a little bit in today's game, but they
kept battling," he said. "We had a chance to tie the game and a
chance to go ahead. I didn't see any of that."

The Marlins closed the gap in the sixth inning thanks to a pair
of fielding miscues. Dan Uggla doubled - his fourth in two games
- to open the inning when left fielder Ryan Church lost a
routine fly ball in the sun. After Cabrera walked, Uggla scored
the team's first run on a single by Jason Wood.

"(Uggla) swinging the bat well," Gonzalez said. "He's a gap guy
and he got five doubles (in the series). Four because of the
fly ball to Church lost in the sun. We need him to swing the
bat."

Following a base hit by Josh Willingham that loaded the bases,
Borchard delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-2. Wood
came in with on a sacrifice fly by Alfredo Amezaga, the last
batter Simontacchi faced.

Jesus Colome recorded the second out of the inning and appeared
to be out of the frame when Aaron Boone popped up into foul
ground, but Fick dropped the ball at first base.

Boone took advantage of the second chance with an RBI single to
center. With the tying run on second base, Colome escaped the
inning by getting Hanley Ramirez to ground out.

Washington got one of the runs back in their next at-bat with a
two-out RBI single from Flores.

After the game, the Marlins traded reliever Jorge Julio to the
Colorado Rockies for pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim.

"We'll see how (Kim) fits," Marlins assistant general manager
Michael Hill said of the righthander. "He can do both (start
and work out of the bullpen). He's been starting of late.

"He threw six innings yesterday on rehab with Colorado Springs
so we're going to evaluate the best fit for him on the club.
We're still working out details, but hopefully he should be
there by Tuesday."

Kim, who becomes a free agent at season's end, recently came off
the disabled list after recovering from a contusion on his
hand.